JOHN G. J. DIESTELHORST, of Redding, came through the Golden Gate to California and sought a home in this sunny climate in 1851.
He was born in Germany, April 3, 1821, the son of German parents. His father was a carpenter and cabinet maker. In religious belief he was a Lutheran. Mr. Diestelhorst received his education in his native land; learned his father's trade, and worked at it there; married Miss Caroline Meine, a native of Germany, and brought her and his two sisters with him to California. After his arrival in this State he worked for six months in San Francisco, and made money. Then he purchased a land claim of 160 acres, and after living on it six months, sold it and came to Shasta County and settled in the new town of Shasta. At that time it was a mining town of twenty-three restaurants and private boarding houses, besides a large number of business establishments. It was a place where supplies were obtained, and frequently there would be 500 pack mules in the town at once, and more than 1,000 transient people to be fed. When the table was ready, two men stood at the open door and collected one dollar from each one as he went in to eat, and as soon as the tables were filled the doors were shut and kept so until they were again ready for the crowd. Lumber was twenty-one cents per foot, or $210 per thousand feet.
When Mr. Diestelhorst went to Shasta he was nearly out of money, and they made fifty dollars per week by washing. Seeing the lack of garden stuff and that there would be a great demand for it, he conceived the idea of going into the business of gardening. He purchased a little mule with which he hauled brush from the hills to fence the ground. He asked a teamster what he would charge a load to haul manure to it from a corral near by. His reply was "four dollars per load." Mr. Diestelhorst helped, and they drew nine loads in the day. He tried to get a reduction in the price, but could not; but this enterprise was a good investment. The lot he had already purchased, so he spaded it up, planted his seeds and raised some fine radishes, lettuce and onions. He had never peddled his garden stuff and was ashamed to do it, but his wife was sick and they needed money, so he was forced to do it by necessity. He suspended two large baskets from his shoulders and filled these with his garden productions. The lettuce he sold at two bits each, or five for a dollar, and the other vegetables at the same rate. He made several trips that day before the first bell rang for dinner, and he came far from supplying the eager demand. When he went home, his wife sat up in bed and asked him how well he had done. He told her to hold out her hands, which she did, and he took from his pockets $26 and put in them! For some time after this his little garden yielded $10 each time he gathered the vegetables. In the meantime he purchased some cows and sold milk at $2.50 per gallon.
In 1852 there was a flood that stopped communication, except by swimming the river with the mules. Flour went up to $1 per pound, hay to $400 a ton, barley $600, and other things in proportion. Mr. Diestelhorst says he lost about $1,500 that winter. The Indians stole his mules. With some men to assist him he pursued them, but they succceeded in getting away with one mule and the other they tied to a tree and cut his ham strings, so that he was afterward of little account.
Mr. Diestelhorst purchased four cows and their calves for $380, and sold the calves to the butchers for $100. His cows and his garden brought him $1,000 per month, and he soon recovered what he had lost.
He remained in Shasta until 1865. Four of his children were born there, namely: Louise, the first white child born in Shasta; William, Justice and Carrie. The following were born at Clover Creek and at Redding: Jennie, Charles and John.
In 1859 he purchased eighty-three acres of land, now included in the corporation of Redding. At that time, however, there was no sign of a town there. He moved to his place, built and improved it, and raised hay, vegetables and other farm products. He sold his farm to his son and retired from active work. He resides at his home, and still cultivates a nice garden, not from necessity, but to have some pleasing employment to occupy his time. He surprises himself with almost every plant he cultivates. What may be expected, therefore, with a good system of irrigation? Mr. Diestelhorst retains his mental faculties, and is a fine representative of the worthy pioneers of this great State.
In 1889, after a useful and happy life, Mrs. Diestelhorst was called home to her reward. For forty-nine years she was a loving and faithful wife, and her loss was deeply felt by her aged companion, her children and her many friends. She is buried in Redding.
Death of J. G. J. Diestelhorst
LIVED IN REDDING OVER FORTY YEARS - Death of J. G. J. Diestelhorst, one of the oldest settlers.
John G. J. Diestelhorst, one of the first settlers in Redding, having lived here continuously since 1859, died Monday morning at his home in the Diestelhorst addition to Redding. The infirmities which more than 82 years had wrought, accentuated by malaria, caused death. The funeral will take place Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Diestelhorst home, Rev. J. R. Jones conducting the services. Interment will be made in the Redding Cemetery.
The decedent was born in Germany on April 3, 1821. He arrived in California in 1851 and the following year went to the town of Shasta. In 1859 he moved to the homestead, which was then near Redding, but which has gradually been merged into the city. During the 42 years he lived there he followed gardening. He was industrious, frugal and a good citizen.
His wife preceded him to the grave, passing away in 1889. He leaves four sons, Charles, John, Justice and William, and two daughters, Mrs. Carrie Nielsen and Miss Jennie Diestelhorst.
He was born in Germany, April 3, 1821, the son of German parents. His father was a carpenter and cabinet maker. In religious belief he was a Lutheran. Mr. Diestelhorst received his education in his native land; learned his father's trade, and worked at it there; married Miss Caroline Meine, a native of Germany, and brought her and his two sisters with him to California. After his arrival in this State he worked for six months in San Francisco, and made money. Then he purchased a land claim of 160 acres, and after living on it six months, sold it and came to Shasta County and settled in the new town of Shasta. At that time it was a mining town of twenty-three restaurants and private boarding houses, besides a large number of business establishments. It was a place where supplies were obtained, and frequently there would be 500 pack mules in the town at once, and more than 1,000 transient people to be fed. When the table was ready, two men stood at the open door and collected one dollar from each one as he went in to eat, and as soon as the tables were filled the doors were shut and kept so until they were again ready for the crowd. Lumber was twenty-one cents per foot, or $210 per thousand feet.
When Mr. Diestelhorst went to Shasta he was nearly out of money, and they made fifty dollars per week by washing. Seeing the lack of garden stuff and that there would be a great demand for it, he conceived the idea of going into the business of gardening. He purchased a little mule with which he hauled brush from the hills to fence the ground. He asked a teamster what he would charge a load to haul manure to it from a corral near by. His reply was "four dollars per load." Mr. Diestelhorst helped, and they drew nine loads in the day. He tried to get a reduction in the price, but could not; but this enterprise was a good investment. The lot he had already purchased, so he spaded it up, planted his seeds and raised some fine radishes, lettuce and onions. He had never peddled his garden stuff and was ashamed to do it, but his wife was sick and they needed money, so he was forced to do it by necessity. He suspended two large baskets from his shoulders and filled these with his garden productions. The lettuce he sold at two bits each, or five for a dollar, and the other vegetables at the same rate. He made several trips that day before the first bell rang for dinner, and he came far from supplying the eager demand. When he went home, his wife sat up in bed and asked him how well he had done. He told her to hold out her hands, which she did, and he took from his pockets $26 and put in them! For some time after this his little garden yielded $10 each time he gathered the vegetables. In the meantime he purchased some cows and sold milk at $2.50 per gallon.
In 1852 there was a flood that stopped communication, except by swimming the river with the mules. Flour went up to $1 per pound, hay to $400 a ton, barley $600, and other things in proportion. Mr. Diestelhorst says he lost about $1,500 that winter. The Indians stole his mules. With some men to assist him he pursued them, but they succceeded in getting away with one mule and the other they tied to a tree and cut his ham strings, so that he was afterward of little account.
Mr. Diestelhorst purchased four cows and their calves for $380, and sold the calves to the butchers for $100. His cows and his garden brought him $1,000 per month, and he soon recovered what he had lost.
He remained in Shasta until 1865. Four of his children were born there, namely: Louise, the first white child born in Shasta; William, Justice and Carrie. The following were born at Clover Creek and at Redding: Jennie, Charles and John.
In 1859 he purchased eighty-three acres of land, now included in the corporation of Redding. At that time, however, there was no sign of a town there. He moved to his place, built and improved it, and raised hay, vegetables and other farm products. He sold his farm to his son and retired from active work. He resides at his home, and still cultivates a nice garden, not from necessity, but to have some pleasing employment to occupy his time. He surprises himself with almost every plant he cultivates. What may be expected, therefore, with a good system of irrigation? Mr. Diestelhorst retains his mental faculties, and is a fine representative of the worthy pioneers of this great State.
In 1889, after a useful and happy life, Mrs. Diestelhorst was called home to her reward. For forty-nine years she was a loving and faithful wife, and her loss was deeply felt by her aged companion, her children and her many friends. She is buried in Redding.
Death of J. G. J. Diestelhorst
LIVED IN REDDING OVER FORTY YEARS - Death of J. G. J. Diestelhorst, one of the oldest settlers.
John G. J. Diestelhorst, one of the first settlers in Redding, having lived here continuously since 1859, died Monday morning at his home in the Diestelhorst addition to Redding. The infirmities which more than 82 years had wrought, accentuated by malaria, caused death. The funeral will take place Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Diestelhorst home, Rev. J. R. Jones conducting the services. Interment will be made in the Redding Cemetery.
The decedent was born in Germany on April 3, 1821. He arrived in California in 1851 and the following year went to the town of Shasta. In 1859 he moved to the homestead, which was then near Redding, but which has gradually been merged into the city. During the 42 years he lived there he followed gardening. He was industrious, frugal and a good citizen.
His wife preceded him to the grave, passing away in 1889. He leaves four sons, Charles, John, Justice and William, and two daughters, Mrs. Carrie Nielsen and Miss Jennie Diestelhorst.
JOHN G. J. DIESTELHORST, of Redding, came through the Golden Gate to California and sought a home in this sunny climate in 1851.
He was born in Germany, April 3, 1821, the son of German parents. His father was a carpenter and cabinet maker. In religious belief he was a Lutheran. Mr. Diestelhorst received his education in his native land; learned his father's trade, and worked at it there; married Miss Caroline Meine, a native of Germany, and brought her and his two sisters with him to California. After his arrival in this State he worked for six months in San Francisco, and made money. Then he purchased a land claim of 160 acres, and after living on it six months, sold it and came to Shasta County and settled in the new town of Shasta. At that time it was a mining town of twenty-three restaurants and private boarding houses, besides a large number of business establishments. It was a place where supplies were obtained, and frequently there would be 500 pack mules in the town at once, and more than 1,000 transient people to be fed. When the table was ready, two men stood at the open door and collected one dollar from each one as he went in to eat, and as soon as the tables were filled the doors were shut and kept so until they were again ready for the crowd. Lumber was twenty-one cents per foot, or $210 per thousand feet.
When Mr. Diestelhorst went to Shasta he was nearly out of money, and they made fifty dollars per week by washing. Seeing the lack of garden stuff and that there would be a great demand for it, he conceived the idea of going into the business of gardening. He purchased a little mule with which he hauled brush from the hills to fence the ground. He asked a teamster what he would charge a load to haul manure to it from a corral near by. His reply was "four dollars per load." Mr. Diestelhorst helped, and they drew nine loads in the day. He tried to get a reduction in the price, but could not; but this enterprise was a good investment. The lot he had already purchased, so he spaded it up, planted his seeds and raised some fine radishes, lettuce and onions. He had never peddled his garden stuff and was ashamed to do it, but his wife was sick and they needed money, so he was forced to do it by necessity. He suspended two large baskets from his shoulders and filled these with his garden productions. The lettuce he sold at two bits each, or five for a dollar, and the other vegetables at the same rate. He made several trips that day before the first bell rang for dinner, and he came far from supplying the eager demand. When he went home, his wife sat up in bed and asked him how well he had done. He told her to hold out her hands, which she did, and he took from his pockets $26 and put in them! For some time after this his little garden yielded $10 each time he gathered the vegetables. In the meantime he purchased some cows and sold milk at $2.50 per gallon.
In 1852 there was a flood that stopped communication, except by swimming the river with the mules. Flour went up to $1 per pound, hay to $400 a ton, barley $600, and other things in proportion. Mr. Diestelhorst says he lost about $1,500 that winter. The Indians stole his mules. With some men to assist him he pursued them, but they succceeded in getting away with one mule and the other they tied to a tree and cut his ham strings, so that he was afterward of little account.
Mr. Diestelhorst purchased four cows and their calves for $380, and sold the calves to the butchers for $100. His cows and his garden brought him $1,000 per month, and he soon recovered what he had lost.
He remained in Shasta until 1865. Four of his children were born there, namely: Louise, the first white child born in Shasta; William, Justice and Carrie. The following were born at Clover Creek and at Redding: Jennie, Charles and John.
In 1859 he purchased eighty-three acres of land, now included in the corporation of Redding. At that time, however, there was no sign of a town there. He moved to his place, built and improved it, and raised hay, vegetables and other farm products. He sold his farm to his son and retired from active work. He resides at his home, and still cultivates a nice garden, not from necessity, but to have some pleasing employment to occupy his time. He surprises himself with almost every plant he cultivates. What may be expected, therefore, with a good system of irrigation? Mr. Diestelhorst retains his mental faculties, and is a fine representative of the worthy pioneers of this great State.
In 1889, after a useful and happy life, Mrs. Diestelhorst was called home to her reward. For forty-nine years she was a loving and faithful wife, and her loss was deeply felt by her aged companion, her children and her many friends. She is buried in Redding.
Death of J. G. J. Diestelhorst
LIVED IN REDDING OVER FORTY YEARS - Death of J. G. J. Diestelhorst, one of the oldest settlers.
John G. J. Diestelhorst, one of the first settlers in Redding, having lived here continuously since 1859, died Monday morning at his home in the Diestelhorst addition to Redding. The infirmities which more than 82 years had wrought, accentuated by malaria, caused death. The funeral will take place Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Diestelhorst home, Rev. J. R. Jones conducting the services. Interment will be made in the Redding Cemetery.
The decedent was born in Germany on April 3, 1821. He arrived in California in 1851 and the following year went to the town of Shasta. In 1859 he moved to the homestead, which was then near Redding, but which has gradually been merged into the city. During the 42 years he lived there he followed gardening. He was industrious, frugal and a good citizen.
His wife preceded him to the grave, passing away in 1889. He leaves four sons, Charles, John, Justice and William, and two daughters, Mrs. Carrie Nielsen and Miss Jennie Diestelhorst.
He was born in Germany, April 3, 1821, the son of German parents. His father was a carpenter and cabinet maker. In religious belief he was a Lutheran. Mr. Diestelhorst received his education in his native land; learned his father's trade, and worked at it there; married Miss Caroline Meine, a native of Germany, and brought her and his two sisters with him to California. After his arrival in this State he worked for six months in San Francisco, and made money. Then he purchased a land claim of 160 acres, and after living on it six months, sold it and came to Shasta County and settled in the new town of Shasta. At that time it was a mining town of twenty-three restaurants and private boarding houses, besides a large number of business establishments. It was a place where supplies were obtained, and frequently there would be 500 pack mules in the town at once, and more than 1,000 transient people to be fed. When the table was ready, two men stood at the open door and collected one dollar from each one as he went in to eat, and as soon as the tables were filled the doors were shut and kept so until they were again ready for the crowd. Lumber was twenty-one cents per foot, or $210 per thousand feet.
When Mr. Diestelhorst went to Shasta he was nearly out of money, and they made fifty dollars per week by washing. Seeing the lack of garden stuff and that there would be a great demand for it, he conceived the idea of going into the business of gardening. He purchased a little mule with which he hauled brush from the hills to fence the ground. He asked a teamster what he would charge a load to haul manure to it from a corral near by. His reply was "four dollars per load." Mr. Diestelhorst helped, and they drew nine loads in the day. He tried to get a reduction in the price, but could not; but this enterprise was a good investment. The lot he had already purchased, so he spaded it up, planted his seeds and raised some fine radishes, lettuce and onions. He had never peddled his garden stuff and was ashamed to do it, but his wife was sick and they needed money, so he was forced to do it by necessity. He suspended two large baskets from his shoulders and filled these with his garden productions. The lettuce he sold at two bits each, or five for a dollar, and the other vegetables at the same rate. He made several trips that day before the first bell rang for dinner, and he came far from supplying the eager demand. When he went home, his wife sat up in bed and asked him how well he had done. He told her to hold out her hands, which she did, and he took from his pockets $26 and put in them! For some time after this his little garden yielded $10 each time he gathered the vegetables. In the meantime he purchased some cows and sold milk at $2.50 per gallon.
In 1852 there was a flood that stopped communication, except by swimming the river with the mules. Flour went up to $1 per pound, hay to $400 a ton, barley $600, and other things in proportion. Mr. Diestelhorst says he lost about $1,500 that winter. The Indians stole his mules. With some men to assist him he pursued them, but they succceeded in getting away with one mule and the other they tied to a tree and cut his ham strings, so that he was afterward of little account.
Mr. Diestelhorst purchased four cows and their calves for $380, and sold the calves to the butchers for $100. His cows and his garden brought him $1,000 per month, and he soon recovered what he had lost.
He remained in Shasta until 1865. Four of his children were born there, namely: Louise, the first white child born in Shasta; William, Justice and Carrie. The following were born at Clover Creek and at Redding: Jennie, Charles and John.
In 1859 he purchased eighty-three acres of land, now included in the corporation of Redding. At that time, however, there was no sign of a town there. He moved to his place, built and improved it, and raised hay, vegetables and other farm products. He sold his farm to his son and retired from active work. He resides at his home, and still cultivates a nice garden, not from necessity, but to have some pleasing employment to occupy his time. He surprises himself with almost every plant he cultivates. What may be expected, therefore, with a good system of irrigation? Mr. Diestelhorst retains his mental faculties, and is a fine representative of the worthy pioneers of this great State.
In 1889, after a useful and happy life, Mrs. Diestelhorst was called home to her reward. For forty-nine years she was a loving and faithful wife, and her loss was deeply felt by her aged companion, her children and her many friends. She is buried in Redding.
Death of J. G. J. Diestelhorst
LIVED IN REDDING OVER FORTY YEARS - Death of J. G. J. Diestelhorst, one of the oldest settlers.
John G. J. Diestelhorst, one of the first settlers in Redding, having lived here continuously since 1859, died Monday morning at his home in the Diestelhorst addition to Redding. The infirmities which more than 82 years had wrought, accentuated by malaria, caused death. The funeral will take place Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Diestelhorst home, Rev. J. R. Jones conducting the services. Interment will be made in the Redding Cemetery.
The decedent was born in Germany on April 3, 1821. He arrived in California in 1851 and the following year went to the town of Shasta. In 1859 he moved to the homestead, which was then near Redding, but which has gradually been merged into the city. During the 42 years he lived there he followed gardening. He was industrious, frugal and a good citizen.
His wife preceded him to the grave, passing away in 1889. He leaves four sons, Charles, John, Justice and William, and two daughters, Mrs. Carrie Nielsen and Miss Jennie Diestelhorst.
Inscription
NO MARKER, only Family Plot Name
Gravesite Details
The family and cemetery believe JGJ had another marker that is now missing.
